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Oamaru Mail, Volume IV, Issue 1089, 15 October 1879, Page 2

' We have been requested by several rcsii cleat# in the Weston district to represent I to those who have the conduct of our jxwt.il ' system that i/ the school-house ncrc made i the district pcat-office, instead of the store, |as at present, the additional advantages larwmg from the possession of a post-ollice iwoahi be great. One of those advantages that would arise-from this altera} ion, it has i pointed out, would be that school chili dreo co«fd convey letters and ncwsjMpers home on thd day of arrival that would otherwise not reach their destinations tor one or more days after arrival, as is frequently the case now, Mr. I'rice, the chiet c!«rk of the Oamara Feat-office, has already transformed our district iofcj a thing of life, and we have reason to believe that it the alteration desired in this, or in any other case should, alter the institution oi careful iocjoiry by the Department, be deemed wise, it will be effected.

The- Wsitaki Road Board has trcatwl us to a surprise—and w® doubt not that it has treated the ratepayers of the Waitski Road District to a very pleasant surprise—by its decision to levy the wonderfully small rate of 4d in the £. We made careful enquiries, thinking that perhaps some mistake had been made in setting the rate down at 4d in the £, and were informed that no mistake fta.t been made: that the smallness of the rate was due to the handsome balance at the BoanTs bank. Oh, that the Municipal Councillors were suffering from this complaint of financial plethora. The resident# in the Kakanui District arc anxious to possess the advantages _ of telegraphic communication ia common with their brethren in other parts of the Oamaru district. Their grievance is that at present those desiring to send messages arc compelled to travel with them, or send tjiern, to the station at Kakanui Mouth. Whilst, w« think that the telegraphic advantages at present enjoyed by the settlers of Kakanui Mouth should not be withdrawn, we also think it exceedingly unfair that residents in the Valley should be placed in such a disadvantagcons position as to either have to r : de several miles with their messages or send none at all Wc understand that it was contemplated to connect the various railway stations by wire with the telegraph lines. If were done, we feel sure that in addition to advantages being conferred upon settlers, the deportment would gain through an increase of business. To-morrow evening the Oaniaru Dramatic Club will make their first appearance before the public, when two excellent pieces will be presented in aid of the Oamaru Hospital lands. The Club, as we have already said, lj ; ave mm** every preparation for placing the Inteass upon the stage in a very complete inasocn New and really elegant scenery has been prepared, and the Club have secured the able assistance of Mn* alter llill, one ofthe best actn**3 in the Colony. This Jacfc alone should b® » guarantee that the en■MaiiiMiii

will also be aided by Mrs. W. F. Kinnear, who has already given evidence of the possession of considerable dramatic ability. The pieces to Ire performed to-morrow evening arc the comedy of "Black Sheep ' and the farce "To Paris and Back for L 5. * Both of them are very well cast, and, judging by what we have seen at the rehearsals, we feel confident that they b i.'ayed in a more than creditable manner. The Club will meet for rehearsal at half-past seven o'clock this evening in the Volunteer Hall. A store at Moeraki belonging to Mr. John Edmondstone was burned to the ground on Monday night. It is supposed {hat the fire occurred through the explosion of a kerosene lamp. The stock was insured in the Standard Office for L2OO, and the store ior LIOO. Mr. E:lmondstone estimates his total loss at about Ll.'iO in excess of the insurances. A meeting of those concerned is called for this cvenim.'. at eight o'clock, at the Imperial Hotel, to consider the charges lately levied i.y the railway authorities on goods placed on sidings within the town. A special meeting of the Oamarn Schools Committee was held last evening for the purpose ot considering the applications for the (>osition of lady assistant teacher for the High School. There were present—Messrs. X. Fleming (Chairman), Montagu, Hay, the Hector of the High School, and the Secretary. At tor consideration of the applications, it was decided to recommend the Board to appoint Miss Ellen Adams, and to request that the new teacher might be permitted to enter upon her duties at once. The meagreness of the information supplied with reference to the applicants gave rise to some comment and dissatisfaction, but the Committee did not come to any resolution upon the matter. The concert and ball which rewarded the efforts of the Artillery corps last night, and the returns for which will be devoted to the funds of the company's band, were as successful as the efforts to make them so were strenuous. Those who attended the hailindeed all the townspeople who were within hearing, were treated to some proofs of what the newly - established band is capable of doing, and we arc sure that there can be but one verdict, and that is that the selections they played were worth hearing, and inspired one with a martial spirit so appropriate to the occasion. The programme was, in arrangement, superior to the general run of miscellaneous programmes, the pieces and performers being as follow : —" Maid of Athens," Mr. A. Fraser; "Sweet Dreamer," Miss N. Hardy ; " I Would that My Love," Mis 3 Honour and Miss N. Honour; violin solo (pianoforte accompaniment by Mrs. Brunton), "La Part Du Diable," Mr. George .Jones; "The Tar's Farewell," Mr. Edward Booth; "The float Bells," Miss Honour; "Angus M'Donald." Mrs. Brunton ; "Capt. de Wellington Boots," Mr. George Farr; "Truth in absence." Mi's. Fraser; "The Sentinel," Mr. I>. Bootii. Mr. Holdsworth sang (in the place of Mrs. Brunton, who was suffering from a cold) the song "Come Back." The whole of the items were admirably rendered, and the National Anthem brought the musical [lortion of the entertainment to a close. Major Steward presided, and made some appropriate opening remarks. At the termination of tho entertainment, Captain Morton, on behalf of the Company, thanked the public for their patronage and the performers for their assistance. The ball was largely attended, over 50 couples being on the floor at one time during its progress, the music for which was supplied by Mr. and 2»lrs. Powell and Mr. Cook ; and dancing was kept up with great spirit till 5 o'clock this morning. Mr. H. Benson ofljeiatod as M.C. The Waiareka Road Board held their usual monthly meeting yesterday, when there were present—Messrs. Borrie (in the chair). Hall, Duncan, Procter, Smillie, Fchluter, and Oliver (Engineer). It was decided to comply with the request of the Waiareka Road iioard to include portion of the fencing and formation on road-line to Municipal Quarry in contracts which the Board nre about to let. On behalf of the Awamoko rfchool Committee, Mr. John Henderson wrote requesting the Board to exchange the road-line at present in use at section CO. block 4, for road-line as shown on the Board's map. By reference to the map it was seen that the section referred to was surrounded by a road-line, and the Boatd therefore declined to close any of the roads. Mr. Geddes wrote asking that a railway crossing be made on the line opposite his property in the Avamoko district. T:;e Engineer wn3 requested to interview the assi-tant railway engineer. A report from the Engineer explaining the action he had taken regarding the formation and fencing c f " road-line to Municipal Quarry was read and approved. The following tenders were accepted Contrast No. 73, Rooney and Slattcrv, LOS 113 I'M ; contract Ivo. 75, Smith Bryce, at schedule rates ; contract No. 70, Biggar and Robertson, L2ll 7s. It was decided by a majority of the Board that the rate for the current year be 4d in the .£. It was decided also to call for applications for the ollicc of vainer to the Board. Tiiu Clerk was instructed to write to Mr. A. C. Paturson requesting him to cut the gorse fence at Logan's puiidook to enable the drain to be cleaned out. The Engineer w.-»s Instructed to peg off road-line between 32, 30, and 33, 31, block VI., Awamoko; also, that the Town Council bu r,g;'.iu written to requesting that a bridge be erected on roaclline in section 13, block 11., Awamoko. Accounts amounting to L 124 13s Sd were jKissed for payment, and the Board adjourned. The Wellington correspondent of the Duncdin Star, a strong anti-Oreyitc paper, says that " it is now quite certain that Mr. Macaiidrew will have a majority of two," and if Messrs. Driver and M'C'aughan vote with j bim, a majority of six or more may be expected,and that " the misunderstanding between Sir George Grey and Mr. Ballauce has been completely cleared up, and Mr. Ballance on Saturday night spoke in the highest terms of Sir George. Mr. Pvke, Mr. Allwright, ami .Mr Stewart will vote with Mr. Macaiulrew on any motion on Tuesday." We always maintained that if Mr. Ballanco were asked whether Sir George Grey was guilty of the autocratic and ungentlcmauly conduct laid to his charge by fiis political enemies or not, the ex-i'rea-.-nirer's reply would be in Sir George Grey's favor, i

At the U.M. t before G. I S'nmpter and J. W, Humphrey, Eaqs., J.P's., William Johnston and John Bradley, charged with being drunk and disorderly, were fined 5s and 10s respectively, with the usual alternatives. Lucy Thompson was charged with stealing a set of gold earrings, a silver cross, and other articles, valued at L'2, the property of one Elizabeth Clark, at Oamaru, on the 13th inst. Inspector Thompson conducted the prosecution, and the prisoner, who was undefended, pleaded not guilty. The prosecutor stated that the prisoner came to the house she resided in Severn-street to see her employer. After the prisoner had gone, she missed the articles, and at once gave information to the police, by whom theaccosed was arrested. On being searched, the detective found the stolen property in a glove in one of her pockets. Detective Livingstone's evidence having been taken, the prisoner, who denied all knowledge as to how the articles came into her possession, was sentenced to one month's imprisonment, with hard labor in Dunedin Gaol.